Answering both, the Mercer County Traumatic Loss Coalition is hosting two upcoming educational programs that are geared for educating school counselors, administrators, and mental health community agencies, but open to anyone. The Coalition hosts three programs a year and are always filled to capacity. For the first program, “Self-Injury, Risk and Protective Factors: Messaging to Youth about Healthy Living and Responding to Troubled Peers,” on Friday, February 23, 2018, a waiting list is accepting those interested as it is fully booked. The second program,“Identifying and Responding to At Risk Youth,” on Friday, April 27, 2018 is accepting registrations now.

The below is a letter to the editor from Steven Olsen, Traumatic Loss Prevention Services Coordinator with Mercer County’s Division of Mental Health, giving registration information. The time to learn and do more is now.

Jan. 25, 2018

Dear Editor:

Over the past year, Mercer County has experienced a rise in suicide deaths among all ages affecting all municipalities. We have lost many of our residents, family members and friends to hopelessness and helplessness. But suicide is preventable. Earlier this month, on Jan. 9, the superintendents of Mercer County hosted a “Call to Action” community meeting at Rider University to begin a dialogue about self-harm and suicide prevention, especially among our youth. It is estimated that approximately 700 individuals attended to learn and discuss their role in reducing this alarming trend.

Creating partnerships and raising awareness while providing systems of support and care are critical. Mercer County’s Traumatic Loss Prevention Services program has been collaborating and coordinating services with schools and community agencies with short-term and long-term strategies, the first of which needs to be identifying warning signs and removing the shame and blame associated with seeking help. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has made available a brief list below. These signs may mean that someone is at risk for suicide. Risk is greater if the behavior is new, or has increased, and if it seems related to a painful event, loss or change:

Talking about wanting to die or kill oneself

Looking for a way to kill oneself

Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live

Talking about feeling trapped or being in unbearable pain

Talking about being a burden to others

Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs

Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly

Sleeping too little or too much

Withdrawing or feeling isolated

Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge

Displaying extreme mood swings

If you believe someone may be thinking about suicide:

Ask them if they are thinking about killing themselves. (This will not put the idea into their head or make it more likely that they will attempt suicide.)

Listen without judging and show you care.

Stay with the person (or make sure the person is in a private, secure place with another caring person) until you can get further help.

Remove any objects that could be used in a suicide attempt.

If danger for self-harm seems imminent, call 9-1-1. Everyone has a role to play in preventing suicide. In our sphere of influence, each of us can help people navigate the struggles of life to find a sustainable sense of hope, meaning and purpose through connection and compassion.

If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.

The following local trainings have been coordinated with the purpose of educating parents and professionals:

To get involved with Mercer County Traumatic Loss Coalition, contact Steven Olsen at 609-278-7924 or email solsen@mercercounty.org. Monthly coalition meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month, from 9:30 to 11 a.m., at Mobile Response and Stabilization Services, Suite 500, 3535 Quakerbridge Road, Hamilton, NJ 08619. All are welcome!

Angela Jacobs is a freelance writer who lives in Hopewell Township with her teenaged children and partner of 20 years. Despite her best efforts to simplify her life, last year she added four chickens and a second rescue dog to her pet menagerie. Unfortunately, an interim of peaceful coexistence ended with the untimely demise of two of the chickens at the paws of Jax, the new dog. An egregious lack of impulse control has since been diagnosed resulting in an indefinite separation of Jax from all present and future chickens, her two cockatiels, open garbage cans, snacks open on tables, abandoned stuffed animals, etc. She does however gently encourage him toward a certain industrious squirrel that has spelunked its way through her backyard in search of the most perfect hiding spot for its nuts.